The 49ers are where the Raiders were three years ago – drastically undermanned, in the midst of unrelenting losing, and with Fort Knox-like money under the salary cap. Obviously, the 10-2 Raiders have made the right moves in hiring coach Jack Del Rio, drafting players like Derek Carr and Amari Cooper, and acquiring players like …

It doesn’t appear as if the high-energy, special-teams standout will receive a contract offer from the team before free agency begins on March 13. Costanzo’s agent, David Canter, said today he’s had a “positive dialogue” with the Niners, but there have been “no contract negotiations whatsoever.” Costanzo signed a one-year contract with a base salary of $700,000 last year. …

The Niners have three wide receivers under contract, none of whom qualifies as a big-bodied red-zone target. Michael Crabtree, 6-1 and 214 pounds, is the only one over 6-foot and the 49ers were in the market for a big wideout last summer when Crabtree was on the roster. …

All over the NFL, players are yawning, shrugging and rolling their eyes.
The commissioner’s office revealed Friday that the New Orleans Saints, under the direction of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, ran a bounty program that paid cash rewards fo… …

In discussing the realities of the modern-day NFL last week, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke acknowledged the obvious: The business of the game makes it impossible to keep teams intact.
When it comes to the Niners’ defense, however, it appears San F… …

In theory, Goldson could test the free-agent market starting March 13 by virtue of receiving the “non-exclusive” tag. The 49ers would have the right to match an offer from another team. If they didn’t match the offer, the Niners would receive two first-round draft picks, an exorbitant price no team would be willing to pay. …

After his senior season ended prematurely due to his third concussions in 13 months, Owusu clocked a time of 4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash, tying Georgia Tech’s Stephen Hill and Miami’s Travis Benjamin for the fastest time at the combine by a wide receiver. He had the second-best broad jump (10-9) among receivers and ranked third in the vertical jump (40.5). …

After missing the 2011 season with a torn ACL, 49ers ultra-motivated tight end Nate Byham is skipping a traditional offseason.
Well, that’s not entirely true.
Byham took a bit of downtime. On Jan. 28, he flew to Pittsburgh. On Jan. 29, he hung out with… …

Not surprisingly, Brooks’ contract is backloaded. He will earn just $750,000 in base salary this season. His base salary will jump to $4.3 million in 2013 and will increase each year, maxing out at $6.95 million in 2017. …

On that last point, I’d say Byham is a lock to stay in San Francisco, assuming he returns at full strength. A sixth-round pick in general manager Trent Baalke’s first draft in 2010, Byham has the blocking ability, toughness and passion that’s prized by the current regime. It’s a small sample size – he caught five passes as a rookie – but he’s also always struck me as having soft and reliable hands for a guy largely defined by his blocking. Another plus: He’s scheduled to earn a base salary of $490,000 in 2012. …

In a phone interview this week, Byham, who was running sprints by midseason, said he feels his left knee is back to full strength and he fully expects to participate in OTAs and minicamp. A sixth-round pick in 2010, Byham, 23, seems like a natural fit in San Francisco’s offense, which employs a unique array of big-bodied blockers (nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga, defensive tackle Justin Smith). …

At the University of Virginia, Ahmad Brooks was kicked off the team.
Two years into his NFL career, he was waived by the Bengals.
On Tuesday, the 49ers made it clear they believe once-troubled outside linebacker is a new man by doing what his previous … …

In another step that solidifies the 49ers’ move from San Francisco, a ground lease for the football team’s new stadium was approved by the Santa Clara Stadium Authority Tuesday night.
The authority voted 5-2 to approve the first of two parts of a 40-ye… …

Before the 2008 season, the nightlife-loving Brooks was waived by the Bengals after two disappointing years. His exit from Cincinnati made the former third-round pick and All-American at Virginia begin to re-examine his life and career. …

In a move that shows the Niners’ willingness to put their money where their mouth is, the team signed outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks to a six-year contract extension today. Financial terms were not released, but ESPN’s Josina Anderson reported, via Twitter, that the deal has a maximum value of $44.5 million. …